The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has identified approximately 34,000 individuals who failed to submit their asset declarations and will strictly enforce fines against them, Director General Ranga Dissanayake said.
Speaking at a meeting of Parliament’s Committee on Public Finance (COPF) last week, Dissanayake said: “We have identified 34,000 individuals. Fines will be strictly imposed on all of them as stipulated under the act.”
COPF Chair Dr. Harsha de Silva said revenue from the statutory fines could help support the CIABOC Fund as the commission expanded its operations across the country.
Anoma Nandani, Additional Director General of the Department of National Budget under the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, also attended the meeting.
Under the Anti-Corruption Act No. 9 of 2023, politicians, specified public officials and other designated individuals are required to submit annual declarations of assets and liabilities by 30 June. The declarations must reflect holdings as of 31 March and include those of dependents and cohabitants.
Late submissions attract penalties deducted from salaries and transferred directly to CIABOC. For declarations submitted between 1 and 31 July, the fine is one-thirtieth of the gross monthly salary for each day of default. For submissions between 1 and 31 August, the daily fine is one-thirtieth of the average total salary received during the preceding six months.
Failure to submit a declaration beyond 1 September constitutes a criminal offence. Upon conviction, offenders face a fine equivalent to 12 months’ gross salary, imprisonment of up to one year, or both.
